Although phenotypes of b-thalassemia and hemoglo- binopathies can be interpreted from hematologic parameters and Hb typing, it is difficult to detect hetero- zygous a0-thalassemia, homozygous a1-thalassemia, and heterozygous a1-thalassemia. In this cohort, posi- tive reaction with a0-thalassemia IC strip test was found in 51 of the 52 samples that had low MCV/ MCH and positive results for erythrocyte H-inclusion bodies (Table II). These samples can be either a0-thal- assemia heterozygote or homozygous a1-thalassemia and require DNA study for proper diagnosis. Two sam- ples of Hb H disease were diagnosed by the presence of high Hb H inclusion body in erythrocytes. The absence
of the band on the capture line zone from 1 sample may be accounted for as the false negative based on the low MCV/MCH in this sample. However, weakly positive results were observed in 21 samples with normal or a1-thalassemia heterozygote and 3 samples of b-thal- assemia trait (Table II). Of these 5 were proved to have normal a-globin genotype and 7 were found to be a1-thalassemia trait by PCR analysis. The remain- ing samples showed negative results with the IC strip test.